Andrew Wiggins – Warriors Huddle

April 17, 2024 — No Comments

It’s Time

By: Matt Anderson

The Golden State Warriors have missed the playoffs three times in the last five years.

This year's team sealed that stat with a complete no-show in Sacramento last night. While the "vibes" may have been better, the fact that that 2023-2024 Warriors were a ten seed proved the adage that if you are standing still, you're moving backwards. The same is going to be true this offseason. Oklahoma City, Houston, and Memphis are all going to be better next season. Denver, Minnesota, Dallas, Phoenix, New Orleans, and the Clippers are not going anywhere. That's ten teams right there. We don't even have to mention the Kings (who just thumped us) or the Lakers, who might take a step back due to player movement/age but could be just as good next year. It also does not factor in the Spurs taking a giant leap after year 1 of the Victor Wembanyama experience.

Last night's flame out is just another in a season-long line of signals that a drastic change is necessary for this franchise (and which your humble scribe has pointed out many times now). Afterwards, Stephen Curry told The Ringer: "I want to win. Plain and simple. It's not my job to make all of those decisions, but it's my job to hold people accountable...." This is as close to acting like Lebron that Steph will ever get, and it is telling he's reached that point. Whatever team employs 30 should be challenging for a title, and if they aren't they are doing him a disservice. And Steph is telling Joe Lacob and Mike Dunlevy, Jr. that.

It is now the front office's job to respond to that message. There are only two responses that will be acceptable here. The first, and the one with a percentage chance that is infinitesimally small, would be to ship Steph to a contender and start a full-scale rebuild. I'll say it again for the people in the back: that is not happening. The other response will be to do whatever it takes to win another title with Stephen Curry. Not win another title with Steph and Klay. Not win another title with Steph and Dray. Not win another title with Steph and Wiggins. Not win another title with Steph and anyone. It is Steph and Steph alone that matters.

There have been two massive problems plaguing this team since 2022. The first is inconsistency. Practically every player not named Steph is a yo-yo player. Some nights they look like they are absolutely critical to the success of the team. The next, you wonder why they are even playing. For some of these players, that is just the consequence of being young and inexperienced in the NBA (e.g., Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski) . For others, it's the consequence of being old in the NBA (see, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Kevon Looney). Some, this inconsistency is because of their availability (like Draymond, or Gary Payton II). Others, it is baffling like Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody (though that is less on him and more on Steve Kerr).

The second problem is that there is no second. This last month of the season, Steph looked exhausted more times than he should. For the current iteration of this team, given the discussed inconsistencies, Steph, at 36 years old, has to carry a massive scoring and creating load. If this team is going to be successful in the near-term, they need to find a second player who can take the ball and make the offense go. This is obviously easier said than done, given the financial state of the team. And that is what is going to make this summer so difficult for the front office and Warriors fans.

Moves have to be made. And some of those moves are going to have to be painful. One of the most frustrating things about this past season was the feeling that if we could just get everyone playing at a B+ or better, this team would be great. But the sample size is large enough to see that most of our players cannot be a B+ or better every night. And that makes life exhausting for the only A+ on the roster. I love Klay Thompson. He is my favorite Warrior ever. But the team really needs to think long and hard about how much his dwindling talent and lack of ability to show up in the post season is worth. Draymond may be the heartbeat of the team, but Dunleavy needs to consider whether we want to keep playing with that fire or if we sell while he's sellable. GP2 is a great story, but is his unavailability a problem? Kuminga took a leap this year, and we need to figure out if that leap should be parlayed into someone who can contribute to a title right now.

All of this must be done with the backdrop of the new financial rules. Ducking the second apron is a must. Getting out of the tax would be phenomenal. But the over all goal has to be clear: these moves have been made to win a title.

Published by Matt Anderson in Uncategorized

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Stephen Curry

March 27, 2024 — No Comments

Play-In Placebo

By Matt Anderson

As of publication, the Golden State Warriors have a one game lead (plus the tiebreaker) over the hard-charging Houston Rockets (winners of 9 of their last 10 games) for the tenth and final spot in the NBA's Play-In Tournament. The Warriors have been slumping since Stephen Curry went out with an ankle injury at the end of the March 7 game against the Bulls. The team went 1-3 without him (including an embarrassing 13 point loss to at Spurs team without Victor Wembanyama or Devin Vassell at Chase Center). They have gone 3-3 since he's been back. Those three losses: a listless performance against an undermanned Knicks, a no-show in a must-win against the Pacers, and another blown fourth quarter lead in Minneapolis.

A few weeks ago, Dub Nation was doing the math on getting a sixth seed. Now, we are crossing our fingers and toes hoping the team has just enough gas left in the tank to hold off a young and hungry Houston team. For what, though? To go to Crypto.com Arena and have the season ended by Lebron James and the Lakers? To maybe win two play-in games on the road for the privilege of being swept by a Denver team that doesn't sweat to beat the Warriors anymore?

Some may argue that this team has a puncher's chance because they have Steph Curry or that any playoff-like experience will help youngsters like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, or Trayce Jackson-Davis. And that may be true (at least the latter part). But getting the 10 seed might also do more harm than good.

Two years ago, the Warriors hoisted their fourth banner in eight years. It was my favorite title because it proved so many nay-sayers wrong, particularly with regards to Steph's ability to lead a team to the promised land. But since that title we have had: The Punch, Wiggins disappearing (literally and figuratively), Klay struggling with his mortality; more Draymond violence; Steph injuries; Chris Paul injuries; and, most importantly, the unfortunate sudden passing of Dejan Milojevic. Then there is also the phenomenon of players/teams who can't hit the broadside of a barn from three lighting us up, or 8th men having career nights against us, or countless games blown at the last minute.

It seems that since the confetti dropped in TD Garden in June 2022, the Warriors have had rotten luck. But, nearly two years is not bad luck. And to quote the late great Obi Wan Kenobi: "in my experience, there's no such thing as luck." At some point that "bad luck" is not bad luck, but the result of organizational failures. Failure to understand the role of big men in today's NBA. Failure to timely develop younger players. Failure to adopt a defensive scheme that accounts for improved three-point shooting. Failure to play with consistency or urgency. From top to bottom, the Warriors have had a hand in their own demise.

A postseason appearance could cloud an honest self assessment. Last year's whimper of a title defense was chalked up to bad vibes. This year the vibes have been, by all accounts, great. Yet, the team is essentially performing the same. I wrote back in December that the franchise was at a turning point, and some of the issues were addressed. But, it turns out, those issues were only the start of the problem, because the new configuration of the team is just as inconsistent and lackadaisical as the old. The franchise needs a rude awakening, and missing the post season entirely could be just that. It will force the club to declare its intentions for the next half decade. Will the push every button and flip every lever to put a team around Steph worthy of competing for a fifth ring? Will they ride Steph, Klay, and Dray into a sunset of mediocrity? Or will they close the book on the Dynasty and begin building the next iteration of this team?

As a fan, I want this team to clearly message what it is doing. Without tough introspection, I fear they will continue to flail around hoping that small moves on the edges will somehow drastically change the .500 team we've watched the last two years. That's why missing the play-in and the sugar coating it would allow might be the best thing for the Warriors. Anything that would give the front office, coaching staff, or players to hide from their roles in the recent mediocrity is bad for the team.

The current version of the Warriors is very far away from being a Western Conference Finals team, much less a champion. Consequently, marginal moves are unlikely to change that. So if missing the play-in is what it takes to convince every level of the organization to make the big moves necessary to put us back into contention, then that is a good thing.

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry

January 8, 2024 — No Comments

SOS: Trades to Save Our Season

By: Matt Anderson

In the midst of a disastrous homestand that saw the Golden State Warriors barely squeak by the worst NBA team of all time, the Detroit Pistons, and put up a putridly atrocious performance against a mediocre Toronto Raptors team, it is clear that this team is going nowhere fast. The Dubs are 17-19, sitting outside the play-in picture at 11th. Compounding matters, they don't have their first-round 2024 pick this year unless it's in the top 4. But there are 11 teams with a worse record than them, so it would take a lottery miracle to jump that high.

Currently the team is plagued by underachievement, an inability to play defense (especially in transition), reckless turnovers, and a coaching staff that is still too stubborn to bench the shitty veterans in favor of young players who are actually playing well.* As I wrote a month ago, things need to change. The difference now is that it is clear this roster is not going to make those changes as currently constructed.

*Here's a fun stat: Jonathan Kuminga has never played 30 minutes or more in consecutive games as a Warrior, despite being the second best player on the team this year.

We are officially one month from the trade deadline, so now is the time to put together some fake trades that might save the season, or at the least, begin to set the table for a better 2024-2025 campaign. Here are some of those fake trades.

Finally Do the Siakam Deal

It feels like the Pascal Siakam to the Warriors rumor has been circulating for a while. After the OG Anuoby trade, people seem to think Toronto are sellers. Here's the best version of that trade from the Warriors prospective would look like:

Warriors get: Pascal Siakam

Raptors get: Chris Paul's expiring and JK

In theory, this is a great trade. Siakam has been an All-Star/All NBA caliber player in the past. He can score, play defense, and has been in some big games. In practice, I hate this trade. First, Siakam is an expiring who will want max money. So, this is probably a four month rental that puts the Warriors as a second round playoff team at best. Siakam cannot shoot anymore (sub 30% on 3s on almost 4 attempts per game), so fitting him next to Draymond (assuming Draymond doesn't get suspended for the rest of the year) is tough. You also don't really help the log jam of players that is messing up the rotations. Giving up on Kuminga for this just does not feel worth it to me.

Raid the Bulls

Part of the Warriors' problem this year is they are middling on both offense and defense. Steph has to be everything for this team to score, and he's about to be 36. One solution would be to get him a guy who can score score score to lighten the load. That's where we get the Zach LaVine trade. But I don't think LaVine moves the needle a ton for this team, so why not get a proven defender from a team that is (theoretically) selling off assets.

Warriors get: LaVine and Alex Caruso

Bulls get: CP3, JK, Moses Moody, and Gary Payton II

This trade also clears out the rotational problems. You get a proven scorer in LaVine who might live up to his contract in a Steph-centered environment. You also get Caruso who can take CP3's place leading the second unit, shoots the ball decently well, and has the size and grit to lock down perimeter players. The Warriors may have to part with some draft capital to make this work, but given LaVine's massive contract and the fact that the entire Chicago organization seems to be done with him, it might not be as heavy of a draft sell as one may think.

Get a Two-Way Wiz

The Washington Wizards have proven to be a team that will deal with the Warriors. They are clearly going nowhere, and the Jordan Poole/Kyle Kuzma combo is not reaping huge benefits. So, maybe they will want to help their rebuild by dealing with the Dubs again.

Warriors get: Kyle Kuzma

Wizards get: JK, Moody, GP2, and Kevon Looney

That is a lot of players for Kuzma. But the Warriors have too many players (especially underperforming/injured vets like Loon and GP2). Kuzma is a great defender and has the IQ and offensive game that would flourish in the Warriors' movement-based system.

Hope Utah Says "Fuck it, let's bail"

It is really unclear what Utah's long-term plan is for their roster. They have a ton of draft capital and some great young pieces. It could be debated that 26 year old Lauri Markkanen is an excellent piece to build around. But at the same time, he's not going to be the best player on a championship team. So, maybe the Jazz are willing to part with him? If so, here's how the Warriors could get him:

Warriors get: Markkanen

Jazz get: JK, Moody, Loon, 2025 pick swap, 2026 first rounder (with light protections), 2028 first rounder

Markkanen immediately adds size and skill to this team. He can stretch the floor, so he and Draymond can play together well. Shipping out three players would also firm up the rotations. You would have the clear starting unit of Steph, Klay, Wiggins, Drayond, Lauri and a closing group based on Steph, Draymond, Lauri, and whoever the matchup dictated. You'd keep CP3 to help TJD, Pods, and Saric continue their great form. In all, this would be a huge win for the Warriors. The problem is, however, that if Markkanen were available, there's a team that could probably beat that offer.

Wild Swing for the Fences

This is the most unlikely trade here, but I think of it as a bit of a masterpiece. The Brooklyn Nets are in limbo right now. They have some talented players on their roster, and for a hot second it looked like they had their centerpiece in Mikal Bridges. But, this year has shown that maybe Bridges is not a number one guy. He's maybe a second guy. What if the Nets decide to cash in while his stock is relatively high and get younger. Then the Warriors could offer a pretty good package that would help the Nets both get younger and clear out some guys who aren't on that young timeline:

Warriors get: Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Nic Claxton's expiring

Nets get: CP3, Looney, JK, Moody, a 2025 pick swap, 2026 first round, 2027 pick swap, 2028 first round

This is a real swing for the fences. It mortgages the entire future for win-now pieces. Bridges is young compared to our core, but he's about to enter his prime. DFS is the perfect 3 and D piece for the Warriors' system. Claxton adds size and athleticism we have not had since JaVale McGee. The Nets get off of long-term money for guys who are nearing 30 by bringing in two guys under 22 who can play with Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe, the Nets more promising young guys. They tried a quick reset in the wake of the Kyrie/Harden/KD fiasco, but this really lets them go into a youth/talent centered rebuild with additional draft capital to work with. Is this trade likely? No. But it would be exactly what is needed to give this Warriors team life over the next two years.

Photo credit: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Stephen Curry

December 27, 2023 — No Comments

Jonathan Kuminga’s Handle & Confidence

In Jonathan Kuminga's eight games as a starter this season, he is averaging just over 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. It has been a perfect storm for JK, with Draymond Green sidelined indefinitely and Andrew Wiggins playing far below his seemingly fleeting peak as the number-two option on a championship roster. Kuminga's unique ability to be a highly explosive drive threat paired with streaky yet effective POA defense has painted the 3rd-year Warriors draft pick as the coveted "two-way wing" archetype -- an archetype that is extremely valuable due to its plug-and-play nature. Just as it is in Kuminga's case, if you have length, athleticism, and the ability to guard one of the other team's two best players, 20-plus minutes per night will all but fall in your lap in today's NBA.

JK's drastically improved ability to handle while in traffic is a significant area of improvement in the 21 year old's game, and it's been on full display in his recent starting stints. The most interesting aspect is that the technical approach of his drives through the paint is nearly identical to what it was last year. The part that's changed is his confidence. He even said it himself:

"I'ma keep it real with you. Me with the ball, nobody's guarding me". (via The Athletic's Marcus Thompson)

Half-Second Basketball is a concept widely harped on by NBA coaches, often towards younger players. It's just as simple as it sounds; When a player finds themselves with the ball, they should both make a decision on their next move as well as put that decision in motion within 0.5 seconds. Kuminga has generally struggled with this over his first two seasons, which has consequently translated to rough stretches of sporadic playing time and even occasional DNP's (albeit unwarranted and an abhorrent miscalculation by Kerr -- we'll save this for another article). But now, Kuminga is puffing out his chest and taking the ball to the basket with clear intentions and a chip on his shoulder -- and he's doing so without hesitation. His ability to overpower and drive past or through his defender is becoming stronger each and every game. As such, it now seems inevitable that Kuminga's drives will more often than not result in a pair of points or free throws.

Above: Jonathan Kuminga takes no prisoners.

As JK continues to approach each game with unapologetic confidence, his positive impact on both sides of the the court will force Steve Kerr into some difficult line-up decisions. To add to the roster chaos, Green's return along with Gary Payton II's recovery are eminent, and both players play similar roles to Kuminga. The '23-'24 Warriors are currently too deep, lacking any top-heavy super stars outside of Stephen Curry. If I would have told you the Warriors are struggling to find minutes for elite-level bench and role players (read: Moses Moody & Trayce Jackson-Davis) during the Anthony Lamb era, would you have believed me? Don't worry, I would have called you a fat liar too.

Watch for Kuminga and the Dubs to take on Jimmy Buckets and the Miami Heat this Thursday evening as the squad begins a seven game-homestand. If the last 6 games have foreshadowed anything, the Warriors could be gearing up for a season-changing run.

Published by Tanner Gardner | @tannergardner_ on Twitter in Uncategorized

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Confidence, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Kuminga, Moses Moody

December 4, 2023 — 1 Comment

Quarter Season Check-In: Two Roads

By: Matt Anderson

We are twenty games and practically a quarter of the way through the 2023-24 NBA season, which is an excellent time to perform a high-level diagnoses of how the Warriors are doing. Let's start with the hard numbers: they are 9 and 11, 11th in the West. They have an offensive rating of 114.8 (13th), a defensive rating of 114.4 (16th), and a net rating of +0.3 (17th). These numbers are a pretty apt descriptor of a very "meh" performance by the team so far this year.

As listeners to the popular soccer podcast, Men in Blazers, know, there is a German word for "turning point," Wendepunkt. It feels, a quarter of the way through the season that the franchise is at its Wendepunkt. The team started 6-2 despite a brutal schedule that saw them play 8 games in 7 different cities with two back-to-backs thrown in for good measure. They also survived either the literal or figurative absence of Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green. Since then, the team is 3-9 and has blown leads of 17, 24, and 22 to teams they allegedly will be competing with for a playoff spot. This recent nosedive in performance has prompted the question: Do the Warriors stay true and loyal to the core that won them three titles, regardless of the results, out of respect and reverence? Or is it time to make some people uncomfortable in the hopes of securing another banner?

This Warriors team is older, smaller, less athletic, and slower, than most teams in the NBA. Where they will win is savvy, guile, and experience. So far, however, they have not utilized that advantage. They still turn the ball over way too much. They still foul too much. Many would say that the fouling issue is due to the lack of athleticism, but I would argue they are smart enough to defend without fouling despite that deficit. The problem is that it is the veterans who have been just as guilty as the youngsters of these issues. And this could be where Coach Steve Kerr's philosophy of yanking younger players at the slightest whiff of a mistake has started to act like a double-edged sword. It has conditioned the likes of Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to make smart plays and hustle plays. But at the same time, it has given Steph, Klay, Dray, and Wiggins a greenlight to play however they would like with no fear of consequences. This has led to sloppy turnovers, selfish shot-hunting, lack of hustle, and unhinged behavior on the part of a certain veteran.

For years, this reliance on the vets was a sound strategy; they were simply better than the younger players. But for the first time, that may not be the case. Moody, JK, and Brandin Podziemski have all shown that they are strong, capable players willing to do the little things for the team to succeed. They fight hard every possession and execute well when given the opportunities. Yet, as the recent flameout versus Sacramento showed, that might not matter. Moody had a hot hand as the game tightened, yet he was still taken out in favor of a veteran who provided precisely zero points in the fourth quarter. This not only may have cost the Warriors a much-needed win, but undermined the entire Steve Kerr philosophy of "close with the players of have earned it that night."

It is clear that something needs to change with this Warriors team if the goal is to win as many titles as possible. Is that a trade? Maybe, but that is some very complicated calculus that depends on a lot of factors outside of the team's control (namely, the willingness of another team to make a deal). There are, however, things the team can control that could provide that Wendepunkt. It starts with having tough conversations with the veterans. They need to know they will be held accountable for their detrimental actions, that they are not untouchable. Many have speculated that the team cannot do that because, for example, Klay's ego is too fragile. The man, who is known for his Game 6 do-or-die heroics, who has won four titles, and who has come back from two absolutely devastating leg injuries does not have a fragile ego. People claiming he is not tough enough to handle tough love and demanding standards are not giving him nearly enough credit. Similarly with Draymond, he may think he is untouchable after getting a new contract post-punch. But if his antics continue to be toxic, the team can bench him, and he has no recourse. No team will trade for him; so, it will be shape up or sit down.

In short, if the Warriors want to have even a faint shot at a title, they need to make drastic changes led by their veterans. They need to put all of their energies into playing the smartest, most connected basketball they can. Because they will need every ounce of experience and familiarity to make up for the clear lack of ability to physically match the best teams in the league. They showed they can do it back in 2022. The question remains as to whether that was the last gasp for this group, or if a change in how they've played the last 1.25 seasons can bear the same fruit.

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr

October 20, 2023 — 1 Comment

Season Preview: Three Players to Watch

By: Matt Anderson

We are days away from the start of the 2023-2024 Golden State Warriors season. The Dubs are, by most experts, a team that has a puncher's chance to win a title (at best). The Western Conference is talented and deep. The Warriors are going to hope that last year's malaise was an aberration caused by the chemistry shattering punch and that the offseason moves fix the vibes. Given the schedule, the team better hope that the road woes were a result of relying too much on youth and inexperience and not some new reality. If this team has another slow start, they could be looking at a hole that is too deep to climb out of.

Many outlets have their season previews. Here at The Warriors Huddle, we wanted to do one that does not tread the same path as the others. Instead of looking at this year's squad as a whole, we wanted to focus on three players to watch, using that as our frame to talk about this season's prospects. Without further ado, here's that list:

1. Klay Thompson - One of the core dynastic pieces is the only one left without a contract for next year. There was hope a few weeks ago that a deal would get done, and indeed, Klay gave an interview to The Athletic's Anthony Slater suggesting a new contract was not something that would be an issue. A few days ago, however, Klay posted an Instagram story set to Tupac's "Me Against the World." That was concerning, especially since it came on the heels of a Woj report that contract talks had stalled. While it may be true that Klay will not be a locker room malcontent if he does not enter the season with a new deal (and talks have seemed to stall in the last few days), that does not mean it won't have a negative impact on the team. Last season saw three phases of Klay: atrocious, amazing, then atrocious again. Many are chalking the atrocious stretches up to his lack of playing basketball in the offseason (came in rusty, ran out of gas). But, those people forget the other piece of that atrocious start. Does the name Charles Barkley ring a bell? What about Klay showing Devon Booker four fingers after getting roasted by Booker so bad it led to a Klay ejection? During that opening 3-7 stretch of the season last year, one of the problems was that Klay was playing for Klay. He was not playing within the offense and, instead, appeared to be trying to prove the haters that he was still Klay.

It will be interesting to see how Klay's motivation for getting a new contract presents itself. Will we see the Klay from the start of last year, trying to prove he was still KLAY, chucking shots, playing selfishly, and being an overall negative to the on-court product? Or, will he be motivated to show his value to the Warriors? Will he play within the offense, raise his defensive game, and generally be the overwhelming positive that he was December through March? If he's the latter, not only will he get the contract he wants (or close to it) from the Warriors, but the team will be very successful. If he's the latter, he might get the contract he wants (but from someone else) despite the fact that the team under achieves for the second straight year.

2. Andrew Wiggins - Listeners to the Huddle will not be new to the importance of Wiggins this year. Our esteemed host beat me to this take a few episodes back. But in the run-up to the season, not many people seem to be talking about Wiggins and his role on the team. He missed 37 games last year, and that two-way force was severely missed. Between injuries and his family issues, Wiggins never really had a chance to show that his 2022 playoff form was the new norm. And for the Warriors' sake, we have to hope it is. Wiggins' offensive role has always been fairly consistent: he doesn't need to be electric just steady. While people forget about it, there is little worry he can't continue that from the start this year. Instead, it is the defensive end where Wiggs will need to show that 2022 magic. The key to every Warriors championship has been the team's defense. Right now, it is hard to see how this team will reach that same defensive competency of the title teams.

Instead, it looks like this team will be the middle of the road defense it was last year. Yes, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are about as good of a backline as you will find in the NBA. Where the Warriors have concerns is on the perimeter. Klay used to be the guy who could lock down the best perimeter player on the opposing team. Steph, while incredibly underrated as a defender, cannot be tasked with being the primary scorer and ball stopper. Chris Paul will be an improvement over the prior Number 3, but the 38 year old 6' guard has his limitations. The job of locking down the perimeter will be given to Wiggins, Gary Payton III, and Jonathan Kuminga. The team will need Wiggins to do what he did to Luka and Tatum back in May/June 2022 if it wants to have any semblance of a top-10 defense. Furthermore, if Wiggins can tap back into the rebounding that was so crucial in that run (especially on the offensive glass), the team will be poised for a much more successful campaign than last time out.

3. Moses Moody - Much has been made of Kuminga making a third-year leap, and the Huddle expects that he will. But overlooked is JK's draft mate: Moses Moody. In his first two years in the league, Moody has started the season as an afterthought/end of the bench guy. The man, however, stays ready. Whenever given the opportunity, he performs. He hits his shots, he defends, he plays solid basketball. As a result, by the end of each year, he makes prominent postseason contributions.

Right now, when everyone is healthy, Moody is probably the fifth guard in the rotation. So, again he is an afterthought. If he can do what he has done the last few years in seizing every opportunity, it could be invaluable to this team. In all likelihood, Steph, Klay, and CP3 will sit a not insignificant number of games. If Moody can be the Moody we have seen at the end of each year each time he has to step in for one of them, the team will survive their absences. Moses' career per 36 are 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. There was a player who was key to the Warriors' 2022 title whose per 36 were 13-9-2. Like Moody, he was a 36-37% three point shooter. He was also a stout defender. That man was, Otto Porter Jr. The Warriors really missed a player like that last year. And while Moody's rebounding so far has not been quite as good as OPJ's, it is very realistic to think Moody could take that role. At 6'6 with a 7'1 wingspan, Moody could be a solid defender of 2s, 3s, and 4s and a guy who hits the open three when passed the ball. If Moody can do that, this Warriors' team will be a tough one to beat on a night-to-night basis

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, Klay, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Season Preview

May 16, 2023 — 1 Comment

What Comes Next?

By: Matt Anderson

The 2022-2023 Warriors did not defend their title. In fact, there were only a handful of moments this season where that even felt like a real possibility. Starting with The Punch, the vibes of this team felt completely off all year. The team played sloppily, displayed a surprising lack of urgency, and could rarely sustain any sort of positive momentum. I spent much of the season with feelings of distrust and frustration permeating my relationship with the one team I truly love.

The question now is what do the Warriors do next? The team has a truly ludicrous payroll and is about to face extremely stiff penalties under a new collective bargaining agreement. Owner Joe Lacob has said that he is not afraid to spend money on a title contending team. He has also stated that he wants to build a franchise like the San Antonio Spurs: one that is always in the conversation of elite franchises. That is where the "two timelines" plan came from.

But, one thing we learned the hard way this season is that the "two timelines" strategy is not working. I think there was an admission of that by trading James Wiseman. Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody are or can be useful players, but it remains to be seen if their usefulness will line up with the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green's ability to play at an elite level. So, Lacob has a choice: go for more titles with the Core Three or be content to be somewhere around the playoff/play-in bubble for the foreseeable future and keep developing young talent.

This should be an easy answer: the Warriors have a literal top 10 all time player in Steph, as well as two sure-fire Hall of Famers in Klay and Dray. Those three showed this year that there is still plenty of gas left in their collective tank. Combine that with last year's title, it is proof that with the right complimentary pieces, this team can be elite. The Warriors should go all-in for as many titles as they can get in the next three to four years. So, what needs to happen with the current roster to get this team back there? Let's go player by player.

First, There are four players that are untouchable right now: Steph, Klay, Dray, and Kevon Looney. Yes, the team needs to work out a new deal for Draymond this summer. But it should be priority one. Priority two should be getting an extension inked for Klay. Hopefully, these deals will be similar to what Andrew Wiggins took last year, which was less than the max. Every dollar they can save between Klay and Dray can be useful.

Speaking of Wiggins, he and Gary Payton II are in the next tier of players on this roster. We will call that tier the "Super Important, but Not Untouchable" tier. These guys are key to the team's success for the unglamorous things they do, especially on defense. Also, the team is super important to them, as Golden State is the place where they both unlocked their best selves. Wiggins and GP2 should be Warriors for at least the remainder of their deals, but the Front Office should not immediately hang up on any call asking about them. If moving them is the cost of getting a player who puts the team as an obvious title favorite, it should at least be considered.

Next, we have the 50/50 guys. These are JP, JK, Moody and Donte DiVincenzo. DDV is in this category because it's truly 50/50 on whether he will be back next year. He has a player option for next season, so he can opt out and become a free agent. If that happens, then the only chance the Warriors would have to retain his services are if no one else wants him and he comes back on a veteran's minimum. I just don't know if he played himself into a contract worth more than $4.725 million, so we can't say what he will do.

The other three are quite a different problem. The question for them is whether the team thinks they still have value on the floor, or if the value comes from who they can be move for. Poole is the fulcrum around which this group of three pivots. He clearly has talent; he averaged over 20 points per game. And, as Steph gets older, there is wisdom in having someone like the best version of JP to lighten Steph's load. But will this franchise ever see the best version of Poole again? The man undeniably works incredibly hard at his game. I have no doubt that whatever he wants, he can achieve. It is just entirely unclear what he wants. Did The Punch sour him on this franchise? Can he continue to coexist with Draymond? Does he want to be the team's Sixth Man, or does he want to be a number one option somewhere else? Does he want to commit to being at least a C+ defender? Only Jordan knows the answers to these questions, and those answers are crucial to what the Warriors do with him.

For JK and Moody, so much depends upon Poole because if the conclusion is that the team needs to move Poole, then they would and should be considered possible pieces to put in the deal. Both have shown enough at times to possibly entice a team looking to bring in a bunch of young, talented players. And given what we have seen from Kuminga and Moses, it would be fair to them to move them where they can play if the powers that be determine there is not a consistent, night-to-night role for them.

In short, Poole, Kuminga, and Moody are the three players the Warriors need to figure out to become contenders again. If there were a team with an older star that's looking to reboot itself around younger talent, these three could serve as enticing trade pieces. The problem is that Poole and Kuminga are probably at their lowest values right now after a dismal playoffs. The catch-22, however, is that if they start next season well enough to raise their stock, the Warriors probably would neither want nor need to trade them. It is a tricky situation that I do not envy this Front Office from trying to sort out.

The next tier consists of the players who are going to be on the roster whether we like it or not. That consists of two players: Patrick Baldwin, Jr. and Ryan Rollins. PBJ is actually intriguing, as a 6'9 wing who can theoretically shoot. I know Kerr is never a fan of young players, but I could see some positive minutes from him next year. The same cannot be said of Ryan Rollins. He was a second round flier that does not appear to have panned out. Oh well.

The penultimate tier is the two-way guys: Ty Jerome and Lester Quinones. As of right now, it appears the Warriors will have at least three roster spots to fill. Depending on what happens with the 50/50 guys, I could see Jerome being the back up point guard. He's a smart player who could provide steady, mistake-free minutes for Kerr. Quinones was pretty great in the G-League this year, averaging 21.8 points on 45/35/78 shooting, 7 rebounds and nearly 5 assists. He could provide value in spot minutes if he can keep up that general efficiency.

The last groups is what I'll call the "Thank You For Your Service" group. That earnestly applies to the retiring Andre Iguodala. We could have used a healthy Iggy in the playoffs this year, or his roster spot during the regular season. It sarcastically applies to JaMychal Green and Anthony Lamb. JG was what he's always been, a great role player on paper who never actually lived up to the hype. The less we say about Anthony Lamb, the better. The Warriors can find plenty of players who can hit threes at a slightly above average clip and miss defensive assignments that have not been sued for rape.*

*As a firm believer in appeasing the basketball gods, one cannot help but wonder if the cursed feeling of this season has a little bit to do with the inexcusable choice by the Front Office to employ someone involved in such atrocious allegations.

In short, as many smarter people have already written, the Warriors have a lot of soul searching to do this offseason. And that centers almost entirely around two decisions: (1) what to do with Draymond's contract; and (2) what to do with Poole, Kuminga, and Moody. The cool thing about all of this is that we will all get to see those answers play out over the next twelve months.

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andre Igaudola, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jonathan Kuminga, Jordan Poole, Klay, Stephen Curry